Neowin News Feed for: Sideloading

This new requirement for Android sideloading could frustrate power users

Usama Jawad — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 02:44:01 +0000

Sideloading isn't going away but Google is changing how it works and adding a surprising new process that could catch many Android users off guard. Read more...

Google relaxes Android sideloading requirement for 'experienced users'

Aditya Tiwari — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 14:02:01 +0000

Google announced it's taking a few steps back and working on new changes to ease app sideloading on Android devices. Read more...

Google's shocking developer decree struggles to justify the urgent threat to F-Droid

Paul Hill — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 08:04:01 +0000

Google's new developer mandate is hitting alternative app stores hard. F-Droid says forced registration, fees, and ID checks could end the open-source project. Read more...

All apps on your Android phone should come from verified developers by 2027

Usama Jawad — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 21:02:01 +0000

Google has announced a rather strict requirement which enforces all apps (including sideloaded software) to come from verified developers. Read more...

Apple warns Australia against joining EU in mandating iPhone app sideloading

David Uzondu — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 15:16:01 +0000

Australia is reportedly considering following the EU in forcing Apple to allow sideloading on iOS and iPadOS. In response, Apple has warned officials not to move forward with the plan. Read more...

Epic Games CEO blasts Apple and Google for “gangster-style” tactics

David Uzondu — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 07:16:01 +0000

Tim Sweeney recently slammed Google and Apple again, calling them "gangster-style" businesses, detailing how their practices hurt Epic Games. Read more...

Google Play Store's new 'pause' feature makes sideloading safer and easier

Jay Kakade — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 14:42:01 +0000

In an attempt to make sideloading easier, along with keeping the device safe, Google Play Store is introducing a new feature to 'pause' Play protect instead of turning it off, altogether. Read more...

Apple gets a breather in Brazil as court overturns ruling imposed on the App Store

David Uzondu — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 07:24:01 +0000

After the Brazil court's ruling, Apple got a brief respite, but the company is still facing tough regulatory pressure. Read more...

Samsung phones running One UI 6.1.1 block sideloading by default, here's how to fix it

Sagar Naresh Bhavsar — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 13:16:01 +0000

It has been recently discovered that the new Samsung Galaxy phones running Android 14-based One UI 6.1.1 update automatically block sideloading by default. Thankfully, you can disable the feature. Read more...

Apple and Google will have to start allowing third party app stores in Japan

Steve Bennett — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 08:34:01 +0000

The Japanese government has passed a law that will require Apple and Google to provide access to third party app stores and payment providers on their platforms, in a move similar to the EU's DMA. Read more...

Apple releases first public beta of iOS 17.4, including EU sideloading support

Steve Bennett — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 20:10:02 +0000

Apple has made the first beta of iOS 17.4 available to the public, including the changes made to accommodate new laws which will come into place within the EU starting from March 2024. Read more...

Apple finally allows app sideloading and third-party stores on iPhones in the EU

Omer Dursun — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 19:30:01 +0000

Thanks to the EU's new Digital Markets Act, iPhone users in Europe will soon be able to download apps from third-party stores and directly from developers. New safeguards have also been put in place. Read more...

Sideloading of Apple iOS apps for EU users reported to come to iPhones in early 2024

Steve Bennett — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 11:14:01 +0000

Reports are surfacing that iPhone users in the EU will be able to download and install apps from third party app stores starting from early 2024, in order to comply with Euoprean regulations. Read more...

New report says Apple's iOS 17 sideloading app feature may only be available in Europe

John Callaham — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 14:04:01 +0000

The new report also says that developers may have to pay an extra fee to Apple if they release their apps via a third-party store. The sideloading feature may not be mentioned in the WWDC 2023 keynote Read more...

Apple may announce support for sideloading apps on iPhones via iOS 17 as part of WWDC 2023

John Callaham — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 08:40:01 +0000

The long-awaited support for sideloading apps on iPhones is likely due to Apple choosing to comply with the EU's recent Digital Markets Act that went into effect on November 1, 2022. Read more...

Report: Apple iPhones will finally allow sideloading third-party apps

Rahul Naskar — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 05:06:01 +0000

In what seemed to be unthinkable a few years ago, Apple is readying an App Store that is much more open for iOS devices. This is to comply with an EU rule. iPhone users will be able to sideload apps. Read more...

Mark Zuckerberg sides with Elon Musk over Apple App Store fees controversy

Karthik Mudaliar — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 06:56:01 +0000

While speaking at a summit, Mark Zuckerberg reinstated that Meta is still not happy with Apple's App Store policies, adding that Apple primarily decides what apps get on a device due to their control. Read more...

These are the Open App Store Principles for Microsoft and Xbox Store

Usama Jawad — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 10:42:01 +0000

Microsoft has unveiled the "Open App Store Principles" for storefronts. All of them apply immediately to the Microsoft Store while some are gradually being enforced for the Xbox Store. Read more...

Apple highlights the dangers of sideloading apps on platforms like Android

Usama Jawad — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 13:08:01 +0000

Apple has detailed the threats that sideloading of apps poses on user privacy and security. An executive has also stated that iOS is not the platform for you if you want to engage in this activity. Read more...

Google: Don't sideload our apps on Huawei devices

Paul Hill — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 14:16:01 +0000

Google has put out a warning to owners of newer Huawei devices against sideloading its apps. Google has been banned by the U.S. government from including its apps on Huawei devices since last year. Read more...

Windows 10 S restrictions go far beyond just locking your choice of apps

Muhammad Jarir Kanji — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 02:18:01 +0000

A new report goes over, and fills in some of the blanks regarding, the restrictions imposed by Microsoft on Windows 10 S, which go beyond just disallowing traditional x86 apps to sideloading and more. Read more...